The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has announced that Nigerian airline Air Peace will begin direct flights from Abuja to London Heathrow Airport on 26 October 2025.
Keyamo disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Tunde Moshood.
He described the development as a “landmark achievement” following sustained diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government to ensure reciprocity in international air travel agreements.
According to the minister, the breakthrough came after his ministry sent a strongly worded letter dated 1 August 2024 to the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon. Louise Haigh, demanding the immediate allocation of landing slots at Heathrow for Air Peace.
In the letter, Keyamo warned that failure to comply could result in reciprocal measures, including a possible review of the access granted to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic at Lagos and Abuja airports.
He stressed that Nigeria was merely asserting its rights under the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with the United Kingdom, which guarantees fair and reciprocal access for designated flag carriers of both nations.
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“After months of negotiations and firm diplomatic engagement, the UK authorities acceded to Nigeria’s demand, granting Air Peace the long-awaited Heathrow slot,” Keyamo said.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a significant diplomatic milestone for Nigeria. It sends a clear message that we are serious about enforcing the terms of our bilateral agreements and protecting the commercial interests of our indigenous carriers.”
He further noted that the move is consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places a high priority on creating an enabling environment for Nigerian enterprises to succeed globally.
Air Peace had earlier launched its inaugural direct flight from Lagos to London Gatwick Airport in March 2024, marking its entry into the highly competitive UK aviation market.
“With the move to Heathrow one of the world’s busiest and most prestigious international hubs the airline is poised to broaden its global reach while offering Nigerian travellers enhanced convenience and connectivity,” Keyamo added.
He described the development as a turning point in Nigeria–UK aviation relations and a precedent for firmer enforcement of bilateral aviation agreements to support national carriers.
